Margarethe Kennedy

Margarethe Kennedy, 89, of Shipshewana, died Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on October 28, 1928 in Eastern Germany to the late Arthur and Elizabeth Stunge, she escaped Hitler’s Germany at an early age and made her way to the United States on December 23, 1951 on board the General C. C. Ballou.

On February 7, 1969, Margarethe married Eugene Kennedy in Elkhart, IN.  Eugene died on May 17, 1996.  She is survived by a daughter, Gayle Burns of Iroquois, IL; two sons, Michael (Kathy) Kuzniewicz of Elkhart and Michael (Cheryl) Kennedy of Goshen; sixteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.  Also surviving are several very close friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a brother, Rudolph Stunge and three daughters; Monika Murillo, Helen “Ginger” Harrell and Patti Cloud.

Magarethe was employed by Gemeinhardts as an assembler and also W. T. Armstrong, from where she retired.  She was an avid reader, an excellent cook and enjoyed traveling with her husband.  Margarethe was also a volunteer for the Elkhart General Hospital Auxiliary, serving the surgical waiting room for 22 years.

There will be no service or visitation for Margarethe.  Private family graveside services will be held at a later date at Rice Cemetery.  Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Disabled American Veterans or Elkhart General Hospital Auxiliary.

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